Well, like I said, my argument is that the other 7 are not valid in terms of society, not that they are religiously invalid. I'm sure they all are valid in the lives of the devout but that isn't my argument, my argument can make no use of bible passages.
I am the Lord, your God.
Well, we live in a multicultural, multi-religious world. The US and many other countries have made laws that prevent discrimination, this includes discrimination based on religion. This commandment suggests that the Christian god is the only one which should be recognized, which, if moved into the legal system, would criminalize those with different beliefs.
Thou shall bring no false idols before me.
Same as the above, religious diversity and the general idea of anti-discrimination eliminate this too.
Do not take the name of the Lord in vain.
This goes against freedom of speech, something that is also prevalent in many western countries today. It also breaks the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment which states that the government "shall make no law establishing religion." The only reason to outlaw this language would be for religious reasons, thus establishing Christianity as a state-supported religion.
Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.
Another religious one, how would this even be enforced? It also goes against the Establishment Clause as it suggests mandatory religious observances.
Honor thy father and thy mother.
I firmly believe that respect should be earned. Some parents are horrible to their children, they beat them and hurt them and cast them out. These people do not deserve to be respected or honored by their abused children.
Thou shall not kill/murder.
This is one of the three that should be (and is) in our legal system. I can't think of any way to justify murder.
Thou shall not commit adultery.
This should not make its way into our legal system as it is really too messy and too personal and frankly I cannot think of a reason that it should. What exactly counts as cheating? Is flirting cheating? How would we define that? What about touches on the upper thigh? "Adultery" is such a wide term that we just cannot regulate it. Also, what about open relationships, or people who find refuge in another person while still caught in an abusive relationship?
Thou shall not steal.
Another one I agree with. It is currently also in our legal system and I can think of no reason that this as a whole (like murder) should become legal. I do feel sympathy for those who steal out of necessity, and I believe their punishment should be lesser, but it is still a crime.
Thou shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
The last one I agree with, also in our legal system.
Thou shall not covet your neighbor's wife (or anything that belongs to your neighbor).
Covet means desire to have. Thoughts cannot be made illegal and cannot be regulated. There is no way or reason to punish someone for desiring something. This is also a big way that our economy flourishes, you see someone else with something, you want it, and you buy it. Without desiring other people's things, it would be very hard for new companies to grow.
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Side note:
@Carlita, I copied the quoted commandments from you, how do you display a link with text other than the link itself like you did here?
